Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what proportion of farmers received subsidies of (i) £1 to £1,000, (ii) £1,001 to £10,000, (iii) £10,001 to £50,000, (iv) £50,001 to £250,000 and (v) over £250,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

Ross Finnie: The number and proportion of farm businesses in receipt of subsidy payments under the main Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes in the stated bands for scheme year 2000 are as follows:

   
Payment range Number of 
Farm Businesses %
 £1- £1,000
 2,548 12.4%
 £1,001 - £10,000
 7,548 36.6%
 £10,001- £50,000
 8,177 39.6%
 £50,001 - £250,000
 2,325 11.3%
 Over £250,000
22  0.1%
 Total in receipt of subsidy
 20,632  

  In addition, approximately 8,200 farm businesses did not claim subsidy under the main CAP schemes.

Civil Servants

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior civil service appointments in the (a) Scottish Office and (b) Scottish Administration in each of the last five years were exceptions, approved by the Civil Service Commissioners, to appointment on merit on the basis of a fair and open competition, broken down by (i) secondments, (ii) re-appointments, (iii) appointments without competition of up to two years, (iv) any other short-term appointments made without open competition, (v) extension of fixed-term contracts and (vi) transfers from other public services.

Mr Andy Kerr: Over the past five years only one exception has been recorded in 1998-99 under (i) above.

Civil Servants

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers will be attending the Britain at the Leading Edge trade convention in Shanghai, China in October.

Iain Gray: No Scottish Executive minister will attend Britain at the Leading Edge, which is a programme of events aimed at demonstrating that the UK is modern, innovative and technologically advanced. UK Government ministers are currently considering their attendance at the event. Scottish Development International works closely with Trade Partners UK and the China-Britain Business Council who are organising a number of the business related events, including the British Business Showcase at which four Scottish companies will be represented.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant by high, medium and low risk as detailed in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is the measure against which an assessment can be made of the level of risk an offender being at large presents to the public. Under the arrangements proposed in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, if an offender is convicted of a relevant offence and is assessed as high risk against the prescribed risk criteria then the court must impose the new sentence of an order for lifelong restriction. The bill also provides for the new Risk Management Authority to produce standards and guidelines to support the risk assessment process.

Dental Health

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists in the Grampian NHS Board area have (a) applied for and (b) received grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative since the initiative's inception.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: In the Grampian NHS Board area (a) the owners of nine dental practices have applied for grants under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative, of whom (b) five have been offered grants since the initiative's inception.

Dental Health

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much in total has been issued to dentists in the Grampian NHS Board area from the Scottish Dental Access Initiative since the initiative's inception.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: To date, £94,500 has been offered to practitioners in Grampian, under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.

Dental Health

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive where each dental practice that received a grant from the Scottish Dental Access Initiative in the Grampian NHS Board area is located.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive does not give out information, which could identify a particular dental practitioner in receipt of a grant under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative, without consent, as this is commercially sensitive information. However, I am aware that some dentists in Grampian have consented to local publicity about the award of grant, among them, practitioners in Aberdeen and Banff.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in the light of the report by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, which stated that pollution from urban traffic and factories is breaching safety limits and damaging wild flowers, crops and probably wildlife across large areas, particularly in the Highlands.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive welcomes the report by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. It builds on the findings of earlier reports on the environmental effects of air pollutants and provides a valuable update on the position in Scotland

  Earlier studies in this area identified the adverse environmental impacts of air pollutants and the transboundary nature of these, leading to action, nationally and internationally, to reduce emissions of the relevant pollutants – sulphur and nitrogen compounds and ozone. Internationally, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe set up the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution in 1979 to tackle air pollution on a broad international scale. Subsequently, a number of international protocols have been agreed to cut emissions, the most recent being the 1999 UNECE Gothenburg Protocol. These protocols have formed the basis for EU action in this area. The EC National Emission Ceilings Directive for example reflects and in places reduces the emission ceilings included in the Gothenburg Protocol for the four major pollutants causing acidification, eutrophication and ozone damage – these requiring to be achieved by 2010. National legislation such as the Prevention and Pollution Control Regulations will continue to be used to ensure that emissions in Scotland are reduced in line with international requirements. In addition, the Air Quality Strategy for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland includes objectives for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides specifically for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems.

European Union

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will attend the European Council Education and Youth Committee meeting in Brussels on 3 September 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: An official from Scottish Executive Education Department will attend the European Council’s Education Committee on 3 September.

European Union

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a formal submission to the European Council Education and Youth Committee, based on the agenda for the committee’s meeting on 3 September 2002.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive will not make a formal submission to the meeting of the European Council’s Education Committee on 3 September. It is not usual practice for any member state to make a formal submission to the European Council’s Education Committee, either in written or spoken form.

  The UK delegation makes interventions as appropriate in the course of debates within the committee, these comments being based on a position agreed among the constituent parts of the UK.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will reply to my letter of 28 June 2002 regarding nitrate vulnerable zones.

Ross Finnie: I replied to your letter on 31 July 2002.

Parliamentary Questions

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S1W-25707 and S1W-25705 lodged on 9 May 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Questions S1W-25705 and S1W-25707 were answered on 15 August 2002.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25568 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 July 2002, what the cost would be of providing a table showing where omissions have been made in the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock and in each schedule, showing in each case the paragraph and sub-paragraph numbers or specified section of the text as appropriate and what the reasons were for each omission; how this cost is calculated, and why it is disproportionate.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The cost could be around £1,000 taking into account the direct and opportunity cost of the diversion of resources which would be necessary. This would be disproportionate as the full contract has already been made available under appropriate conditions of confidentiality to Justice Committee 1.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it has given in each of the last three years and intends to give in the present year and the next two years to the operators of HM Prison Kilmarnock for the provision of transitional care arrangements between prison and community for problem drug misusers.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Transitional care arrangements for problem substance misusers have been made available to all short-term prisoners released from all prisons in Scotland including Kilmarnock through a national contract signed in October 2001 and which will run, initially, until April 2004.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of transitional care arrangements between prison and community at HM Prison Kilmarnock will require a renegotiation of its contract with the prison’s operators.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No.

Racism

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any specific representations to Her Majesty’s Government on the draft European Union Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia and what form any such representations took.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the draft European Union Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia.

Racism

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any specific representations to (a) the Council of the European Union, (b) any member or body of the European Parliament, (c) any member or body of the Committee of the Regions and (d) the European Commission, on the draft European Union framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia and what form any such representations took.

Ms Margaret Curran: No. Relations with the EU are reserved and therefore representations to these EU bodies are agreed with the UK Government and carried out by and through the UK Government.

Rail Network

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has secured any investment to expand Waverley railway station.

Lewis Macdonald: To help inform the final design of the station and determine the necessary funding required to develop it, much technical investigative work has to be undertaken to assess, among other things, site conditions and new track and platform layouts. The Scottish Executive announced that it was making available up to £1 million to facilitate this work on 20 May 2002.

Rail Network

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has been given by the Department of Transport on investment to expand Waverley railway station.

Lewis Macdonald: Until more detailed plans for the re-development of Waverley Station have been developed, it is too early to determine what funding will be required.

Rail Safety

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to addressing the issue of railway crime within the school curriculum at both primary and secondary school level.

Nicol Stephen: There is scope for teachers to address the issue of crime, and where appropriate, railway crime, through a range of curriculum guidelines at both primary and secondary level. These are principally within the context of Personal and Social Development, and through specific programmes in Personal and Social Education. The Health Education guidelines also encourage awareness in relevant areas including personal and community safety as does the discussion paper Education for citizenship in Scotland .

  The British Transport Police make visits to schools to talk about railway safety issues.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with the European Commission with regard to the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest and the effects on the six bird species which Scottish Power has confirmed are present on Eaglesham Moor, given that the birds’ priority habitat or species is defined in Article 1 of the European Habitats Directive and are listed under EC directive 79/409/EEC as needing special protection.

Lewis Macdonald: There is no requirement on the Scottish Executive to consult the European Commission on this issue since the area is not designated as being of national or international importance for bird species or habitats. Scottish Natural Heritage was among the bodies consulted about the environmental impact of the proposed wind farm and has welcomed the developer’s proposal to put in place a Habitat Management Plan with the aim of enhancing the existing peatland habitat across the moor, which they believe should contribute towards the offsetting of any local adverse impact.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites utilising wind turbines are currently operational; what the generation capacity of each site is and what amount was generated by each site in 2001 and so far in 2002.

Ross Finnie: There are 14 wind turbine developments currently registered with the electricity regulator (Ofgem) as accredited generating stations under the Renewables Obligation Scotland. Details are contained in the table. Information about electricity generation by individual site is not available at present.

  
 Generating Site
Installed Generating Capacity (MW)
Developer Location
 Beinn an Tuirc
30 CRE Energy Ltd
Carradale, Mull of Kintyre  Beinn 
Ghlas 8.4
National Wind Power Ltd Taynuilt, Argyll
 Burradale
1.98 Shetland Aerogenerators 
Ltd Burradale Hill, Shetland 
Deucheran Hill 15
Powergen Renewables Campbeltown, Mull 
of Kintyre  Dun Law
17.16 CRE Energy Ltd
By Oxton, Lauder, Berwickshire 
East Kilbride 0.6
Merchant Wind Park (East Kilbride) Ltd Langlands 
Industrial Estate, East Kilbride  Fair 
Isle 0.16
Fair Isle Electricity Company Ltd Fair 
Isle  Windy Standard (Gallow Rig 
and Polwhat Rig) 21.6
National Wind Power Ltd Carsphairn, Dumfries 
and Galloway  Hagshaw Hill
15.6 CRE Energy Ltd
Hagshaw Hill, Douglas.  Hare 
Hill 13
CRE Energy Ltd New Cumnock, Ayrshire
 Liniclate
0.06 Element Engineering
Liniclate, Isle of Benbecula  Novar 
(Bendealt and Meal an Turic) 17
National Wind Power Ltd Evanton, Ross-shire
 Myres Hill
1.9 Thorfinn Wind "A" 
Ltd Test site, near Eaglesham, Glasgow
 Thorfinn
2.7 NEG Mikon Ltd
Evie, Orkney

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity generation has been cut at Cockenzie and Longannet power stations as a direct consequence of generation from wind power.

Ross Finnie: It is not possible to calculate this precisely. Coal fired generation is flexible, and varies in response to the demand on the electricity network. The Renewables Obligations Scotland sets specific targets for renewables which can be assumed to displace generation (and hence emissions) from coal fired plant.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation and representations it has had with the Meteorological Office with regard to the radar station located on the site of the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Lewis Macdonald: Defence Estates submitted a representation on behalf of the Meteorological Office in response to the consultation on the application by ScottishPower to build a wind farm at Whitelee Forest. The Meteorological Office’s concerns are about the possible impact of the proposed wind farm on the operations of the Corse Hill weather radar. Officials from my department have subsequently twice met officials from the Meteorological Office to discuss these concerns and will maintain contact with them as long as this matter remains unresolved.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25833 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 May 2002, whether it will institute a public inquiry to examine issues surrounding the planning application for a proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Lewis Macdonald: This matter is still under consideration and whether it will be referred to a public local inquiry will be determined in due course.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals to effect changes in respect of consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 in relation to on-shore wind farms.

Lewis Macdonald: No such proposals are being considered at present. Our procedures are, however, kept under review and if improvements were needed in the way that applications for consent are dealt with, we would consult widely on these matters before any changes were implemented.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made in respect of the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Lewis Macdonald: The issues raised in the course of the consultation are still under consideration. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28169 today.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25833 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 May 2002, whether it will publish the results of the consultation exercise relating to the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Lewis Macdonald: The issues raised in the course of the consultation are still under consideration. When the matter is determined the reasons for that determination will be published.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on ScottishPower's renewables obligation will be if work on the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest does not proceed as currently programmed.

Ross Finnie: The obligation on ScottishPower will not be affected. It would remain for ScottishPower to decide how it meets that obligation.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of ScottishPower's renewables obligation will be met by the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Ross Finnie: The way in which ScottishPower meets its obligation under the Renewables Obligation Scotland is a commercial matter for that company.

Residential Care

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake and publish an evaluation of the financial and other implications of the House of Lords decision in Robertson (AP) v Fife Council on 25 July 2002 relating to the provision of residential accommodation and whether it will be seeking to amend the relevant legislation.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive is working with local authorities to assess the implications of this judgement and will consider what response is appropriate once that assessment is complete.

Roads

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into the SCOTS national road maintenance condition survey.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive fully supports the work of SCOTS in taking forward the local authority condition survey of local roads. An official from the Executive's Roads Network Management and Maintenance Division is a member of the project working group which is monitoring progress.

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26001 by Nicol Stephen on 24 July 2002, what its response is to the recent evidence by the Child Poverty Action Group, One Plus, National Children’s Homes and other anti-poverty groups and children-based charities that approximately 80,000 children from low income families are not eligible for free school meals; what action it intends to take to address any gap in eligibility, and whether it maintains that all children from low income families are eligible for free school meals.

Nicol Stephen: Eligibility for free school meals extends to pupils whose parents are in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or who are themselves in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance. These arrangements ensure that help is targeted at children from the poorest families under clearly understood criteria. There are no current proposals to extend eligibility for free school meals.

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26001 by Nicol Stephen on 24 July 2002, what its cost predictions are for extending free school meal eligibility to the approximate 80,000 children from low income families who are not currently eligible for free school meals, identified by the Child Poverty Action Group, One Plus, National Children’s Homes and other anti-poverty groups and children-based charities.

Nicol Stephen: On the best available data, providing free school meals to a further 80,000 pupils would cost in the region of £25 million per annum assuming full take-up, but making no allowance for the costs of extended dining areas, additional staff or the improved provision recommended by the Expert Panel on School Meals.

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26001 by Nicol Stephen on 24 July 2002, what consideration the Expert Panel on School Meals gave to extending eligibility for free school meals to children from low income families and to the evidence of the Child Poverty Action Group, One Plus, National Children’s Homes and other anti-poverty groups and children-based charities that 80,000 children are not eligible; what figures for children not eligible the panel considered and what input it had in the panel’s consideration.

Nicol Stephen: The remit of the Expert Panel on School Meals was to provide costed recommendations and a fully developed implementation strategy to establish standards for the nutritional content of school meals; to improve the presentation of school meals to improve general take up, and to eliminate any stigma attached to taking free school meals.

  While outwith their remit, entitlement to free school meals was one of a number of additional issues considered by the panel. They took the view that the Scottish Executive should examine how families are informed about eligibility to free school meals and also the eligibility criteria to ensure that families and young people do not fall through a gap. They also took the view that the Scottish Executive should reassure themselves that the criteria for eligibility remain appropriate.

  The panel’s interim report is currently the subject of consultation, with a deadline for responses of 11 October 2002. The panel will then consider responses before submitting a final report to ministers.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when and where the consultative seminars on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency planned for September and beyond will take place.

Allan Wilson: As part of the Policy and Financial Management Review of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Scottish Executive is hosting five seminars for SEPA’s stakeholders during September.

  The dates and venues for the seminars are:

  10 September, The Station Hotel, Dumfries.

  11 September, Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh.

  13 September, St Johnstone FC, McDiarmid Park, Perth.

  16 September, The Teacher Building, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.

  18 September, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, Inverness.

  All seminars will begin at 2 pm. Those who wish to attend one of the seminars can register their intention by e-mailing separeview@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the development of "Seonaid", its virtual newsbroadcaster, cost and what it costs to maintain.

Mr Andy Kerr: The total cost of development of virtual character Seonaid, first launched on the news website in September 2001 and including the addition of a Scottish accent in July 2002, has been £151,833 plus VAT

  The virtual character is maintained as part of the routine duties of the three-person news website team.

Scottish Executive Staff

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its senior civil servants subscribe to the Civil Service Health care Society.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally and is in any case regarded as personal to the individual. The Scottish Executive makes no contribution to the society on behalf of its staff.

Waste Management

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the review of regulations covering litter and flytipping.

Ross Finnie: The review is well advanced and is expected to be completed in the autumn.

Water

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has determined (a) how many Water Customer Consultation Panels will be set up and (b) the area to be covered by each such panel.

Ross Finnie: There are to be five Water Customer Consultation Panels serving the following areas:

  Scottish Islands - Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

  North West Area - Highland, Moray (that part which is West of the River Spey), Argyll and Bute (that part which is North and West of Loch Fyne and Glen Fyne).

  North East Area - Aberdeen City, Dundee City, Moray (that part which is East of the River Spey), Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Fife.

  South West Area - Glasgow City, Stirling, Argyll and Bute (that part which is South and East of Loch Fyne and Glen Fyne), North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Falkirk (except Bo’ness and Blackness), Clackmannanshire.

  South East Area - Edinburgh City, Midlothian, West Lothian, Falkirk (only Bo’ness and Blackness), East Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders.

Water

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the appointment of the Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels and what progress has been made to date.

Ross Finnie: The appointment process for the position of Convener of the Water Customer Consultation Panels is nearing completion. Announcement of the successful candidate will be made shortly.

Water

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what remuneration and allowances will be paid to (a) the Convener, (b) the Deputy Convener and (c) ordinary members of the Water Customer Consultation Panels.

Ross Finnie: The convener will receive remuneration of £12,740 per annum. The remuneration comprises a fixed annual payment of £500 plus £170 per day calculated on the basis of a time commitment of six days per month.

  Panel members will receive remuneration of £3,380 per annum. The remuneration comprises a fixed annual payment of £500 plus £120 per day calculated on the basis of a time commitment of two days per month.

  The convener will appoint a deputy from each of the panels but these members will not receive any additional remuneration.

  In addition to the remuneration detailed above the convener and panel members will receive allowances in respect of expenses properly incurred in the performance of their duties.

Working Groups

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the report of the Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group.

Cathy Jamieson: We have published this report today. Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 23375). The Executive welcomes the report and will consult on its recommendations.

Correction

The reply to questions S1W-21050 and S1W-27636, which were originally answered on 10 January 2002 and 13 August 2002 respectively, have been corrected: see pages 1425 and 1416.